NCAA 2010 Wager Total: (-$160)* (do as I "say" not as I do - the REDUX)

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NFL Picks (aggregate): 75-62-5

NFL (unit picks differential): +22

NFL 2010 Wager Total: (+1,740)

Gameday/week writeup...and so... the "acne faced", months removed from senior prom, POINT SHAVING saga continues... Impossible to actually BET on these games (unless you fancy yourself as a Viking God, betting with play $$ and weilding a blunt tool... Me?... Instead I like losing money to guys who smell like aftershave mixed with a Philly Cheesesteak & are busy fitting Jim Tressel for cement shoes if the Ohio State line doesn't come out just right... Nevertheless... I dutifully present my humble opinions & vouch for my misgivings...

I'm taking credit for my midweek misses picks (just as I took credit for my LOSS in the NFL [with Miami])... Andy & Amen are privy to these midweek picks because the game write-up thread is in the queue usually by Wednesday... Anyway, it's a simple formula that I've told u about all year long... Take midweek live home dogs (Akron & UNLV qualified)... Take Boise State & TCU every week... You won't win every one, but you're likely to stay ahead of the vig...

Gameday thoughts here...
No different from last week... I stayed on the Boise State train (but you missed that train because they won 51-0 last night)... Remember... HAL computers run the bulllsh** BCS... So, it's a good time of the year to start looking at "bowl eligible" teams (who are playing just a little harder)... A greedy NCAA athletic director needs 6 wins to be qualified for a bowl (which means $$ for the school if they get in one - even if it's just called the "weed eater", the "pizza pizza", or the "muffler" bowl [sponsors])...

I'm taking Vandy (just to piss I-Man off for the last time since he's ready to quit all blogs)... I'm going AGAINST Penn State just to piss ben off (and put the HEX on the Bo Jacksons) :-)...

Note: CV is 0-4 on picking Penn State games this year, so FADE MY PICK whatever you do... I've stayed away from "Volunteer" work (except for the volunteer work I do in publishing this blog - so we'll see if "fading" those Volunteers actually makes me $$)... Socioeconomic irony bitchez! :-)

Results:

Week 11 NCAA Picks (ATS): 6-5-0

Week 11 unit pick differential: +1

Week 11 wager total: (+$80)

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NFL Preview:Game Write-up for NFL to be posted before Sunday kickoff

Week11 Injury Report (for FANTASY PLAYERS):

BYE WEEK

(no more fucking BYE WEEKS - get back to work you slaves! - and NEXT YEAR start "entertaining" us ROMANS for 18 weeks instead of 16... Yeah! You heard me! It's tough to handle the idea of having two less weeks to bet on - C'MON MAN)... When we get to an 18 game schedule, look for Obama to start advocating a law that REQUIRES sportsbooks be built all around the country... Need those revenues... You know... for "education", and "better schools"... The KIDS! He believes the children (and their iPhones are our future)... "Teach them well and let them lead the way... Show them all the beauty they possess inside"... Whitney Houston Brown will sing you the rest as soon as she puts down her crack pipe...

Last week against the 29th ranked defense (Patriots), the Steelers O-Line couldn't block anyone... Granted, they were playing on a short week, but that MNF game against the Bengals cost them Willie Colon, & Max Starks... Chris Kemoeatu﻿ (G) will also be missing his 2nd game here so I can't really see Rashard Mendenhall getting much room to run... The Patriots got to Ben Rothleisberger 5 times, and the Raiders are tied for 2nd in the NFL with 27 sacks... Hines Ward has a concussion, and they're even auditioning a new field goal kicker...

Needless to say, the fortunes of the steelers are spiraling downwards quickly... OTOH, the Raiders have been playing brilliantly of recent... McFadden is the NFL rushing leader, and if the Raiders can keep the game manageable with 3rd & shorts, it'll negate the Steelers most potent weapon (which is their pass rush)...

Still... I don't trust Jason Campbell... He's been playing well lately, but is still an inconsistent... I'm still remembering the November 2008 game vs. the Steelers (in DC) on the eve of election day... The Steelers bitch slapped him on that night, and soon thereafter, Campbell was benched, and shuffled out of DC...

I'll go with the RAIDERS here for the possible upset, but can't lay more than (1 unit) on the outcome...

Houston Texans (4-5) at J-E-T-S Jets, Jets, Jets (7-2) (1:00 EST)

Line: Jets by 7

﻿The Texans have been abysmal versus Rex Ryan as of recent (both versus the Ravens & Jets)... But you gotta think that Ryan was playing with a stacked deck (a defense which can create havoc against a pass happy team with no running game)... The Texans are actually much different this year (as Matt Schaub & Andre Johnson fantasy owners knowby now)... They like to pound the rock with Arian Foster... The Jets have been 'shakier' stopping the run than most would expect... Last week, Peyton Hillis ran all over them, and they have surrendered yards and first downs to other quality backs this year as well...

While the Texans defense sucks, the Jets aren't interested in "flashy" offensive propositions... I probably have more confidence in the Jets offense to move the ball against the Texans defense than vice versa... Darelle Revis will erase Andre Johnson, so this could end up a low scoring affair...

With that in mind, I like to take a team with "a touchdown" in points... Houston has failed to cover for 5 straight games... But the longer that goes on, the more it "favors" them in terms of taking them in a betting proposition... You'd have to be worried if they were a sorry team facing a 14 point line... 7 points makes them a 4 point dog on a neutral field (probably about right vs. Jets)... Basically that's saying "they're NOT a sorry team... They NEED a win here... Jets need to manage a game... Side with the points... TEXANS for (4 units)...

Carolina Panthers (1-8) at Baltimore Ravens (6-3) (1:00 EST)

Line: Ravens by 11

What worries me most here is the pointspread... The Ravens should be able to "name the score" here... 11 points? Carolina is down to auditioning 3rd string QB's... They're about to start some guy that was stocking shelves and watching games on TV two weeks ago... Ravens are coming off a tough loss at Atlanta that they lost in the last 50 seconds (Atlanta is 18-1 at home as of recent)... What's "worse" is they lost the game on two blown calls (both were "admitted" to be blown calls after the game by the refs and players involved)... One went for a TD, the other kept alive a drive on 3rd down that led to a score... But the Ravens are on 10 days of rest here...

Again... Why the short line? The Panthers, besides the QB problems, lost their left tackle Jeff Otah, and their first 3 backs...

I'm not going to noodle on this much more... I'll go with the RAVENS, but only for (1 unit) because the line is fishy...

Anybody that saw the Redskins versus the Eagles on Monday Night Football must be wondering if they'll even win another game this year... It's still bothering me that Michael Vick is getting all this glory because the Redskins flat out played horrible... They played well for a few series (when they were totally embarassed and out of it), but then folded again...

It shouldn't be a surprise... They were only pegged to win 4-5 games this year, and have already accomplished that... The TITANS on the other hand played poorly in Miami last week, but still find themselves in contention... They still have all their important games in front of them (including 2 games with the Colts)... I think they can get better here utilizing Randy Moss to set up opportunities for Chris Johnson...

While I'm worried that the Titans might be in "look ahead" mode, it's usually a good idea to fade a team that gets schellacked on Monday Night Football... The Redskins have issues which may not be resolved in this quick of a turnaround... THUMBTACKS for (1 unit)...

Detroit Lions (2-7) at Dallas Cowboys (2-7) (1:00 EST)

Line: Cowboys by 6.5

Both of these teams are the traditional Thanksgiving Day hosts... It's kind of funny and odd that they're facing each other here... In any case, that's not really important, but it does give me an excuse to put up the classic Madden TURDUCKEN spoof...

The Cowboys﻿ seemed to play more inspired playing under Jason Garrett last week vs. the Giants, while the Lions lost their 24th straight road game to the winless Bills... How can anyone sensibly take the Lions until they get off that schnide... They will, eventually, but this may not be the spot to do it (against a team that is clearly in personnel evaluation mode)...

One thing that would worry me about blindly fading the Lions here would be the fact that despite the impressive win vs. the Giants last week, the G-Men still managed to put up 450 yards of offense... I hate the prospect of teams being able to "score at will" (because that always leaves open the infamous "back door cover" on a 6.5 point line... I'll take the COWBOYS for (0 units)...

Green Bay Packers (6-3) at Minnesota Vikings (3-6) (1:00 EST)

Line: Packers by 3

So here we go... This should be the last time Brett Favre plays against the Packers... And could be "Chilly's" last game (if the Vikings lose)... I like the idea of poetic justice... Not that Favre or Chilly are bad people (I actually basically like Brett Favre), but this circus had gone on long enough...

Favre had his chance last season to walk away a champion... He didn't get it done (in the end), but he went far enough... This "coming back" for a final FINAL chance was bad by design...

I kind of get a feeling sometimes, that karma plays a role in creating ironic circumstances to underscore points that humans ignore, or neglect on their own... The universe WANTS you to make the right decisions... If you fail to do that, it will conjure up some ridiculous caricature to let you know who's in charge...

Now, that was a BOLD statement on CV's part (because it assumes that I know what natures intentions are)... That's why, instead of being BOLD myself and making this the "pick of the month" (which I spent last week), or even a 5 unit pick... I'll take the PACKERS for a modest & humble (3 units)...

Buffalo Bills (1-8) at Cincinnati Bengals (2-7) (1:00 EST)

Line: Bengals by 5.5

The Bengals have really played their asses off the past two weeks (losing to the Steelers & Colts) in games that it was evident were the last gasp to get their season kickstarted for a late season run... They fell short in both...

The reason that I mention that is that it's important in handicapping to identify what the possible state of mind is with a team at any given point during the season... Anyone who plays fantasy football ought to know this... You can't wait for draft day... Then the season starts, and you start racking up wins & losses... Everyone is still "in it" for awhile (to get to the playoffs)... There then reaches a separation point in the W/L column, and some teams drop into the "mathematically" in it (which is usually about one game from being "eliminated")...

You lose interest at that moment... Mostly, these guys are professional, so that "we're defeated" attitude may only last a game or two... Then they often re-gain their interest as the prospect of "performance bonuses" comes on to the horizon (as well as "spoiler roles")... Oftentimes, when I commish a FF league, I insert these types of bonuses into the payout structure... It gives struggling teams a reason to suit up and play hard when they're down & out...

The Bills have been "down & out" all year... Most (including myself) had pegged them as probably having the worst record in the NFL in the 2010 campaign (the "Andrew Luck" drafting rights)... I'd made the Ravens & Packers my Super Bowl picks)... But the Bills ARE trying... They're just trying to get better in a new system... They finally beat the Lions for their first win of the season last week... So I think they can continue this momentum in this spot... Athletes and teams are superstitious about "streaks"... Once you start one, you always want to see how far it can go... Last year the Titans started 0-6, but then started reeling off win after win and finally almost made the playoffs with an 8-8 record... I'll take the BILLS here for (5 units)...

Cleveland Browns (3-6) at Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4) (1:00 EST)

Line: Jaguars by 1.5

All the Browns have done recently is go 2-2 against the Steelers, Saints, Patriots, & Jets... The Jets game they almost won... They've been doing it with rookie QB Colt McCoy (who was almost an afterthought in the 2010 draft)... I've gotta admit that I thought he'd totally fall on his face in the NFL...

Now, it's not really McCoy that's the reason for the Browns success... Instead, it's been Peyton Hillis running like the 2nd coming of John Riggins, and a solid Brown defense (especially at the corners)... What's fortunate (when a team starts contending), is that the QB starts commanding appreciation... Mark Sanchez is this type... When the Jets are winning, everyone will talk about how great Sanchez is as a QB... But if Sanchez tosses 4 balls late down the middle and gets picked off, and the Jets lose... He sucks... Teams that don't have a QB that has the team on his shoulders (like a Peyton Manning), simply want the QB to manage the game and avoid making costly mistakes (ask Trent Dilfer)...

Another surprise, to CV, is the 5-4 record of the Jacksonville Jaguars... I still think their record is somewhat of a lie... Their wins have come against either questionable teams, or teams that were in a bad spot... David Garrard has had some good games, but they've all come against soft defenses... Houston, last week has the worst defense in the NFL... They torched Dallas when Dallas was not showing up for games, and they managed to squeeze out a win vs. Indy, but Indy's defense isn't all that great...

Where did Jacksonville struggle? I'll tell you... vs. the Eagles, vs. Chargers, vs. Titans (all who feature top defenses)... I don't think the Jaguars are "self aware" enough to realize that dynamic, and therefore I'll go with the BROWNS to come in with the upset special and blindside them when they're not looking... (4 units)...

Arizona Cardinals (3-6) at Kansas City Chiefs (5-4) (1:00 EST)

Line: Chiefs by 8

I don't know if anybody saw Todd Haley "stiff" Josh McDaniel last weekend on the handshake after the Broncos "ran up the score" vs. the Chiefs... It was kind of funny... It's certainly not something I would do, but it was funny to watch... In a gentlemans game like golf, I would be appalled, but not as much in the NFL... Haley later apologized for the (lack of) gesture...

Anyway... It says something... It probably says it would have "sucked' to have been a Kansas City Chief this week in practice... But it underscores that Todd Haley is probably an intense guy who hates losing or having his team embarrassed... I like to use that psychology in handicapping games...

Speaking of which, the Cardinals themselves got embarrassed last week vs. the Seahawks... Most of the time, it's a great idea to take teams (which the public drops) off an embarrassing loss... So what do you do here when BOTH teams are victims?...

I'll go with the Chiefs winning this game (because technically they're still in a race for the AFC West, and the Raiders "could" possibly lose in Pittsburgh today, while the Chargers & Broncos play each other on Monday Night)... A win by the Chiefs keeps them among the leaders in that division...

The Cardinals are technically still in the hunt for the NFC West (which could see it's division winner with a 7-9 record - lol)... But Derek Anderson is still an interception throwing machine who is prone to mistakes under pressure... He's been playing a little better recently, so I'll go with the CARDINALS to cover this spread, with the Chiefs winning the game... (0 units)...

SUNDAY LATE GAMES

Seattle Seahawks (5-4) at New Orleans Saints (6-3) (4:05 EST)

Line: Saints by 11.5

Vegas has been tossing these "double digit" point spreads out on the Saints all year long... Frankly, I haven't been following the outcomes all that closely... I just roll my eyes, when I see each one, see the public plop down it's money on last years Super Bowl winner, then see the saints win by a field goal in the end...

For this game, Reggie Bush is back, (as well as Pierre Thomas)... I don't want to make too much out of that because it's tough for an NFL player to really be in "game shape" (versus players who have been playing 60 minutes week in and week out)... I don't want to make too much out of this... Seattle has surprised me all year long, and it looks like they have Matt Hasslebeck in the line-up... That is a plus, because he has enough experience to minimize mistakes...

The problem could come at any moment though (if Hasslebeck gets hurt during the game and they have to bring in Charlie Whitehurst to face the Greg Williams blitz packages)... I'll go with the SEAHAWKS to cover here, but can't recommend laying any units on a team that's one hard tackle away from having Pee Wee Herman taking snaps... SEAHAWKS for (0 units)...

Atlanta Falcons (7-2) at St. Louis Rams (4-5) (4:05 EST)

Line: Falcons by 3

This a time for the Falcons to step up and really show they mean business... Much has been made about their 18-1 record in the Georgia Dome with Matty Ice... many saw another "cool" last minute drive engineered versus the Ravens (helped by horrible penalty calls and a ball that was juggled on an out of bounds - ruled a catch)... But the Falcons have been "mediocre" on the road... If they want to be put in the pantheon of the New York Giants, they have to win these games...

It may not be so easy to do... The Rams have a similar story... Struggle on the road... Solid at home... Suprisingly, the Rams are in a battle of their own... Not for title of "best team" in the NFC, but they still have a solid chance of winning their division (which means HOME GAME in the first round of playoffs - regardless of record)...

The Falcons don't have an elite defense (especially their secondary)... This could be something for Sam Bradford to exploit (except that he's a little short on weapons at the moment)...

All in all, this is a very fair line... It's going to come down to whichever team steps up to play here, overcomes adversity, or simply gets lucky... I'll go with the RAMS for (1 unit)...

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3) at San Francisco 49ers (3-6) (4:05 EST)

Line: 49ers by 3.5

Unless you're a football wagering degenerate like me, you probably don't know that the Tampa Bay Bucs have a lousy record on the West Coast... This goes all the way back to like 2002 (and encompasses both good Bucs teams & bad ones - don't forget they won the Superbowl after the 2002 season), until Malcom Glazer decided he didn't care so much about the NFL as he did about equestrian events, tea parties, Manchester United, and basically piling up more debt than the US Congress...

So the public sees the Bucs with a (6-3) record, and the 49ers with a (3-6) record and says "WTF?"... Easy money right?

Not so fast... Besides being horrible on the West Coast, the Bucs have one of the worst rushing defenses in the NFL... Last week, they let the Panthers (who have some of worst offensive rushing stats in the NFL) start a 4th string running back, and have him rush for 100 yards... Frank Gore (49ers) could have a field day here... Troy Smith has been making things interesting at QB the past two games as well... One of the games, nobody saw (because it was in London)... Then the 9'ers had a bye week... Last week they played the Rams down to the wire, and won... As I've said above, the Rams are a better team than most think...

I'm thinking the "mobility" of Troy Smith, & the pounding of Frank Gore will be enough to wear the Bucs down on defense throughout the course of the game... The MO for the Bucs is that many "tough" wins they've had to come from behind... If the 49ers can get out to a lead here, they might be able to keep the Bucs defense on the field a long time in the second half in drives by just pounding the rock... That's Mike Singletary football...

I like the 49ERS here for (2 units)...

Indianapolis Colts (6-3) at New England Patriots (7-2) (4:15 EST)

Line: Patriots by 4

Of course nobody (on the East Coast) will be watching the 49ers-Bucs game... All eyes will be on Peyton vs. Brady (and then Giants vs. Dog Killers - on Sunday Night Football)...

I'm sure you're waiting for some "pearls of wisdom" here, but really I don't have any... What can I say about this matchup that has not already been exposed abundantly over the past decade due to all the hype that this matchup brings about...

I often try to use one teams "emotional" state versus the others in determining the potential outcome of a game... Here? I know both teams will "bring it"... So I guess I'll have to delve into some of the X's & O's...

Neither team has a defense that ought to put their team in the upper echelon of wins... Most of the time these teams win with their preparation and "will"... CV is lucky enough to have a team that's leading the SC FF league at the moment, but my team isn't even close to having scored the most points... Instead, I simply take the schedule game by game, and try to squeeze as many points out of the lineup as is possible, then let the chips fall as they may...

The Patriots are probably a 4 point favorite here because they just dismantled the Steelers last week on TV in my NOVEMBER PICK OF THE MONTH 10 unit play... Everyone knows the Colts have a lot of key personnal dinged up on offense... What IS in tact is Peyton Manning & the offensive line... Oftentimes, that's all you need...

Don't forget that prior to the win over the Steelers (who - as mentioned above - have more than half of their offensive line out), the Patriots struggled to keep the Cleveland Browns offense off the field... The Colts don't rely as much on the run, and don't have a Peyton Hillis, but they do have Javarris James (who CV picked up in a lot of fantasy leagues), and who has scored TD's in several consecutive games recently...

My hunch is that the Colts, as always, can keep this close... Maybe the Pats win in the end... Maybe the ending will be a "re-pay" for the controversial 4th down decision that Bill Belichick made last year in Indy, and the Pats eek out a win instead...

But if you give me Peyton Manning and 4 points... I'll take it... COLTS for (2 units)...

SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

(write-up prior to kickoff)

New York Football Giants (6-3) at Philadelphia Dog Killers (6-3) (8:25 EST)

Line: Dog Killers by 3
CV is leaning to small unit play on DOG KILLERS

CRBBearish short day (weakness about to continue?). Midpoint below EMA(10). Still below SMA(21). Still failing the Gann 1x1. No daily 3LB changes (reversal is 315.25). Back above the weekly 3LB reversal.

XLFBullish short day. Midpoint below EMA(10). Closed below the SMA(21) and held SMA(55). No daily 3LB changes (reversal is 14.23).

What you can expect from this blog until the Monday after the Thanksgiving holiday is the following:

- I will do the WEEKEND FOOTBALL PICKS (which are published Saturday Morning at 8AM).
- I'm hoping Amen Ra & Andy T will do their usual posts (I'm making this decision at midnight, so I haven't had time to consult with either.
- I hope you can content yourself with filling out the comment sections of their threads. For continuity sake, since next week is a short week, perhaps I'll just put up a simple morning thread to start the day. (so nothing drastic may, in fact, change)

By the Monday following Thanksgiving, I'll have had time to "re-evaluate" my role in presenting ideas and opinions (ahab has convinced me that I need to do this - I've always respected his input, and he's been a valuable contributer across many blogs - so if he is questioning my integrity or honesty - I think it's time for me to do some soul searching)...

I'm going to leave you all with a little history here in the process...

I think MOST of my involvement in blogging began on this day, on this thread (at TBP)... (This was when Ritholtz comment sections would stretch into the hundreds... I remember one Friday getting it to near 400... Nowadays, Ritzy is lucky to even get to triple digits on a thread (unless he tosses up some kind of Pelosi versus Palin nonsense out there for shits & giggles)... Then you can be sure to have Venn Data and friends tell you about as much as how George Bush was resonsible for everything as CV talked about fitness & healthcare in this one...

Take time if you will, read it if you're interested... Many of you here actually posted comments to that thread (so it's kind of fun because it's a lot like looking at a yearbook)... I have to laugh (at myself) a little, in retrospect, and realizing how much effort it appears I put into dominating that conversation... It's not (or should I say "wasn't") my intention to do so... I simply have a vivid imagination... Add to that that I'm quite animated and enthused when engaged in a topical debate of interest... I'll take a wild guess and say that if anything I'd penned was "offensive", or "boring" in any way, the comment section would not have swelled the way it did...

That was a particularly interesting debate... Perhaps one of the best EVER at TPB... It 'seemed' to get off topic (and I apologized at least 2 times in the comment section to BR - tho I tried to also suggest that the subject was manifestly an offshoot of the original thread)... I tried to "keep it close" so to speak... Probably failed... But "tried"... CV, unless provoked, typically displays good manners...

Many commenters expressed (in that thread), how happy they were in discussing the topic (the "morphed" version - in fact)... My "tone", as always tends to hit hard, but I don't consider myself disrespectful... Arrogant yes, disrespectful no... I often use comical metaphors to emphasize a point (when I talk about "cheetos" & "fat slobs", I'm using terms that evoke emotion)... That's how one stirs up debate... I wasn't referring to anyone personally... Just using the terms, and applying them to a general condition as pertaining to the argument at hand...

I have been in fitness for almost 30 years, hold 2 advanced degrees, & have written 3 instructor manuals on the subject of professional fitness instruction... I have traveled to over 45 countries in the world (working - not visiting)... I speak 4 languages, and understand a thing or two about other cultures... I lived 12 years in Europe, and another 12 years in Southern California... I don't walk into bars and drop these things as "lines" to pick up girls... I only bring it up on those (or these) rare instances where I'm forced to define the fact that I actually might know what I'm talking about on a certain subject... When I do that, it might NOT be clear to the person I'm debating that I'm framing that foundation NOT as a dismissal of THEIR ideas, but simply as a justification for my own ideas (or at least my right to have an idea)... It's my way of saying... "I respect your opinion, but I want to emphasize that what I'M expressing is not something I'm just making it up off the top of my head... THAT'S A VERY DIFFICULT THING TO DO IN BLOGGING (because you're not looking into someones eyes)... Furthermore, they don't know you from Jack (until they take the time)... I suppose my motto would be "bring your best game if you want to debate me" (not because I'm smart, but because I'm animated & relentless)... Many times, with me, it's a war of attrition... I'm aware of that... I'm not particularly PROUD of that (because I lose a lot of potential friends along the way)... But I also have a deep seeded notion that the people who don't have the stamina to fight to the death, AREN'T the ones I can really count on in the end (in blogging, or frankly, IN LIFE)...

It's sad to lose friends... But I feel you have to constantly strive for the deepest definition of what you call "friend"... It's very well defined in the Marine Corps... Plattoon, Corps, Country God... Otherwise, the security blanket that you cloak yourself in, in the end, isn't what you'd deluded yourself into believing...

How ironic, that I hear that topic being bantered about EVERY DAY in the blogosphere (when people discuss their soul relationships with THEIR OWN COUNTRY & IT'S LEADERS)... I hear so many people questioning that TRUST that they thought they had all these years...

Anyway... Enough about my "origins" of blogging... But I needed to identify that as a starting point for many things that have happened since, and of course, where that leaves me today...

That thread (from Ritholtz - the one linked above), was basically the thing that got me kicked off that site... I went in and out of posting for a month or two later (sometimes having to do so on NEW handles)... But I can't refrain from being a lightning rod... I've mostly only used my real name as a handle on various blogs... I don't delibritely HIDE behind my internet handle... I realize that certain people (for professional reasons) have the need to do so... But I don't... I feel it's a way of "keeping me honest"... IOW - If I were flat out just being offensive to people on purpose, I wouldn't want them to know where it was coming from, right? They may decide to dig up all kinds of information about me, and keep little notebooks... Hell - they may hire thugs to appear at my very doorstep some day... No - I don't hide... Ritholtz doesn't hide either... That's him... That's Barry (like it or not)... Keeping YOURSELF honest makes you accountable for your statements... So if I "cross the line" (which is impossible to avoid on occasion), I'm the first to stand up and admit it... It's the quid pro quo (self imposed)...

I'll leave it up to all of you to decide if I was a "disrespectful" lightning rod (you'd have to read the entire comment section - maybe a couple of times - to put yourself into the "mood" of the moment)... Frankly - I don't expect that anyone has the time to do that... but IF YOU DO... it may explain a lot of things... IF YOU DON'T (spend time to peruse the comment section)... Then it proves that you're probably more willing to simply "have opinions" about CV and drop one liners amongst your friends, than you are to really give something the benefit of analysis... Don't ever be guilty of letting reality ever cloud your opinion on things...

That was also the introduction of THOR into the blogosphere (at least the Ritholtz one)... I suppose it starts out OK, but by the end he's calling me an angry white male whose peer group is the UNI-BOMBER...

I'd never met, or conversed with this person before in my life... I'm guessing that he simply decided that he didn't like who I was or was representing...

Fast forward... Andy T started a blog later that summer, and many of us morphed over... Andy ended his project at the end of the year, and bergsten started a blog... Many here have already been through the explanation of that transition, but the end result was that the blogs split apart at that time...

Let me explain something right now... This has to do with "concept"... I DID NOT START THE BLOG (in January) because I wanted a little sewing circle, or chat room... Instead, I considered it a professional PRODUCT... A commodity, a widget...

I'm not monetizing this blog right now (but I'd consider those aspects under a particular set of circumstances)... Bergsten and I have discussed "monetization" at various points in the past... Don't OVERRATE that admission for it speaks to nothing other than:

- "Hey - I'm serious about presenting good work to the best of my ability"
- "I'm devoting a lot of personal time and effort into this" (not commenting - THREADING is something more)... Commentators can come and go and hardly have to devote anything at all - unless they desire to stick around and become a part of the makeup of the effort... Those that do - are rewarded... You can usually tell the difference by whether the blog author ENGAGES the contributor on a regular basis - or simply tosses a line out (because they basically see them as only someone who is adding numbers or flags to the comment count)...
- I view this [blog] as a "product" (not as a chatroom)

When viewed from that perspective (when someone has a "product on the market" - whether the product is an automobile company, a smart phone, a TV network, or a blog), naturally you're going to go to great lengths to defend it (if it's your sweat & blood)... You're even going to go beyond... You're literally out to DESTROY your competition...

If you're Steve Jobs, you want nothing more than everyone with an iPhone, PAD, whatever... If you're GM, you want everyone in Volts, Camaros, & Trucks... If you're MSNBC, you want FOX off the air... Get it? If you DON'T want that those things, then you're not much of an entrepeneur...

Ironically... Usually... You relish competition... It's the worlds way of telling you "Bring it, son, or you're gonna get buried"... It keeps you in the game when your competitors "one up" you on something... You take a moment to be friendly, acknowledge it... Then go back to the chalkboard and go back on the attack...

I remember quite vividly (on bergsten's blog)... When Thor posted his first foto essay (as a thread)... CV was the first one to make a complimentary comment that day about how it "looked" good and I thought he was on the right track... Then I went back to my own space, back into assassination mode, and conjured up ways to take my own presentations to the next level... Some are hits [my presentations], some are misses... But the EFFORT is always genuine (which is all CV has ever been since the TBP thread - and frankly - in my private life)...

What's important for me to express in this moment is CONCEPT... If you all understand that I'm trying to polish my skills at presenting a VERIFIABLE PRODUCT here (something that may, in the future, have value on the open market)... Then you can embrace the need to be "competitive" (which can read as "nasty" sometimes if you're clueless to the game)...

So to bring the same argument closer to the present... Most of you know that bergsten shut down the blog started after Andy's, and others have formed their own group... As "chief" contributer to this blog (although Amen Ra & Andy, I consider equal partners - and FRANKLY, I might have ceased operations already had it not been for them)... Anyway... let's call me "strategic chief" (or "guidance chief")... I felt it was my objective to DEFINE to many of you out there what the DIFFERENCE (in product) you're getting with this blog versus others...

Now I smile :-) Why?

Because as "publisher"... I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW TO THINK... As "entrepeneur" I have to try different methods and watch and see how the offerings (and behavior) are responded to... I'll give you an example... Remember those AAPL ads that had that hippy looking kid (who was Apple), and the nerdy fat dude in the business (who was supposed to represent Microsoft)?...

Frankly, that was kind of MEAN... But that's business... If you were an Apple die hard, you probably LOVED the ads... If you hated Apple, you probably HATED the ads... The rest got divided up in the process... Nevertheless, it was CLEVER AS HELL because that's exactly what you want as an entrepeneur... A better identification of who your audience is, and who isn't... You're not going to win them all... Ever!

Now - the other blog... It's quite possible that they NEVER CONSIDERED THEMSELVES in a war of this sort... That's fine... But I'm also thinking that the Taliban wonders why the hell the Soviets & Americans have been traipsing all over their land for the past 30+ years as well... Sometimes you're in a war and you don't even know it...

Anyway... I'm actually at the point, right now... that I'm about willing to lay down my arms and recall the troops home... Why? Because yesterday I got into a thread discussion with several of the protagonists (at the other blog)... I was finally "appeased" by some of the admissions... To paraphrase:

"Fuck off" (of several weeks ago)... was diluted down to "Please go away"... I'm really not being facetious when I say that... Why? Because going back to the first day a person ever conversed with me & called me the UNIBOMBER...to that same person ridiculing me to no end for starting my own blog...to that same person spending his own personal time digging up fotos from me in 1986 to make funny jokes about my hair & exercise attire...to that same person telling me to fuck off... to that same person always acting as in a pack of wolves trying to discredit one individual (me- fighting for a TRUTHFUL representation of my honor & intentions)... Well, that was the first time this SOMEONE actually sounded somewhat polite & apologetical... While I never got the apology I'd sought since June 2009... I figured that was about as good as it was going to get...

Basically, I thought... "I'll take it"...

As I always do... I made an attempt to express that ("I'll take it")... But as has happened many times in the past, I was also censored in doing that... I asked... AS A GESTURE... that my comment NOT be removed (despite the fact that this is a blog that swears up and down that comments are never censored or deleted)...

Here was the first effort... (6:27)

Gone... VANISHED

Then came the final effort (some hours later, as I was involved watching football)... (10:51)

(I apologize for not having the 2nd piece to that - I'd copied and pasted it - but somehow neglected to save... Nevertheless my main expression was contained therein)...

I made one simple plea... Please do not delete this comment, and I will honor my word not to make my presence felt in your new domain...

There were two particular links that I made in that post [which was deleted by the blog hosts]...

- One was this link to the (6:27), which you needn't click on now because at this point, it's just above... I wasn't going to make that OBVIOUS, but alas my hand was eventually forced...

- The 2nd is an apology to DL... It PAINED me to see a blog comment launched at me by someone who evidently didn't realize that I'd made a FULL APOLOGY and RETRACTMENT of the comments I'd made to DL... You see, CV is engaged in a 24/7 evaluation of his own efforts & misgivings... I'm usually the FIRST to admit I'm wrong, or am acting irrationally... I made a full apology to DL, but unfortunately, that seems to have been lost... It shouldn't be... Because it's still there in the public domain if anyone would expend the effort to find it... karen (& others) were quite happy that I'd expressed that apology at that moment and made comments about it... Others don't seem as willing...

Actually... I dug it up anyway... Here's the link to my apology to DL that Thor & denise saw fit for you not to see (as expressed in that post)... I wrote it first thing the very next morning)...

- Also, there is the start of an explanation to Mutt (before the screen shot is clipped)... I regret now that I've lost the rest of that post... I neglected to save it in TEXT before hitting send... I suppose I was relying on that comment NOT being DELETED by the authors of the blog (because it was - in fact - somewhat of a DEAL)...

You must understand that until that point... I'd NOT CONSIDERED their "domain" THEIR DOMAIN... If you read my words above, you'd know that that would be akin to GM coming out today and saying "OK we have a company, and IPO, we sell cars... So now NOBODY IN THE WORLD is allowed to make any cars anymore, or drive them on the information superhighways"... All activity must stop... You're not allowed to challenge us with better models... All other TV networks, if you don't agree with Chris Matthews, Rachel Maddow, or Keith Olberman, you must go off the air... You must convert all your phones to iPhones... You have to be bullish on stocks...

Now that that has been defined, (and admitted to) last night (both in terms of pleas & censure)... I feel much better... See? Before I was thinking that I was challenging a line of thinking with dissenting opinions... Now I know that dissenting opinions are not welcome there... & that RE-DEFINES my belief, and guides it in a different direction...

I know now that they want a sewing circle... I'd thought I was competing against a blog (and instead they just want to be FACEBOOK)...

For posterity... I assure everyone I'm not "making this up" (nor ever was)... Above are the screenshots of my deleted posts (apparently - your eyes are much too delicate to know the real truth... None of you are capable of understanding & deciding for yourselves, so they've been secreted away from you for your own good)...

Sadly - I could never get anyone to simply let those comments be published, and have everyone go home happy... Seems they didn't want it bad enough...

Ironically though... In a twist of fate, it appears that they might have WON after all... Because this experience (of being DELETED), has deleted my enthusiasm (for the moment), of bringing facts & truth to the forefront...

I need a break...

Amen & Andy... Can you both spell CV for a few plays while he catches his breath?

CRBBullish long day (confirmed morning star but didn't take out high of the long day). Midpoint below EMA(10). Still below SMA(21). Still failing the Gann 1x1. No daily 3LB changes (reversal is 315.25). Back above the weekly 3LB reversal.

XLFDoji day. Midpoint below EMA(10). Closed at the SMA(21) and back above SMA(55). No daily 3LB changes (reversal is 14.23).

Disclosure/Warning

This blog should not be interpreted as investment advice of any kind.The authors are NOT representing themselves CTAs or CFAs or Investment/Trading Advisor of any kind.The authors may or may not trade in the markets discussed.The authors may hold positions opposite of what may by inferred by this blog.The information contained in this blog is taken from sources the authors believes to be reliable, but it is not guaranteed by the authors as to the accuracy or completeness thereof and is presented here for information purposes only. Commodity trading involves risk and is not for everyone.

Fictional Character Quote of the Day:

I guess it comes down to a simple choice. Get busy living or get busy dying.

- Andy Dufresne

"The Shawshank Redemption"

About this Blog

This Blog's primary focus is on trading based upon technical analysis. It is run by "AmenRa" and "AndyT," quasi-anonymous traders who employ technical analysis to assess market conditions and trading opportunities. AmenRa utilizes 3LB techniques, Moving Averages and Fibonacci sequences. AndyT's analysis relies primarily on "Wave Theory" and Fibonacci sequences. The Comments Section is uncensored and open to the public. Please try and adhere to the "Blogger Policy."